Blog of poet Susan Laughter Meyers, an update of publishing news and poetry events--mainly ones that I'm participating in, mainly in the Carolinas.

Saturday, August 09, 2014

NC Writers Conference

This year the NC Writers Conference--a longstanding, loosely organized group of NC writers--met in Asheville for its annual gathering. I loved every minute of the time there, the last weekend in July. I remember when I first attended back in the early 1990s as a guest of my late friend Marie Gilbert, who later nominated me for membership. I was starry eyed at being among so many talented writers, and I loved the warm spirit, the casual fun of the group. I still do love the group's laid-back, yet friendly energy.

This year Margaret Bauer, Programs Chair, asked me to moderate the session on the James Applewhite Poetry Prize, which meant that I got to introduce James Applewhite before he announced the winner of this year's contest sponsored annually by North Carolina Literary Review. I also got to introduce the finalists and honorable mentions for this year. And we all got to hear readings by them--plus a reading by Jim Applewhite from his new book Cosmos. Did I mention that I had a great time? Yes, all weekend!

Next year our gathering will be in "Little" Washington--Washington, NC. Can't wait!

SC Academy of Authors brunch, 2013

"Every door is a lesson in leaving...."

POETRY BOOKS:
My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass (2013), winner of the Cider Press Review Editors Prize. Finalist for the National Poetry Series, the Prairie Schooner Book Prize, and the Robert Dana Anhinga Prize. Available at http://ciderpressreview.com.

Keep and Give Away (University of South Carolina Press, 2006), winner of the SC Poetry Book Prize, judged by Terrance Hayes; the SIBA Book Award for Poetry; and the Brockman-Campbell Book Award, judged by Rigoberto Gonzalez.

Lessons in Leaving, chapbook. Winner of the Persephone Press Book Award, judged by Brendan Galvin.

Other awards and prizes: the 2013 Edward Stanley Award from Prairie Schooner; the 2013 SC Academy of Authors' Carrie McCray Nickens Fellowship; and a 2011 Verna Ubben Fellowship to VCCA.